Harrogate Town fans could be allowed into Wetherby Road's Football League debut

The League's newest club will start the 2020-21 season behind closed doors at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium, but hope to move back to their home ground on October 10 – the second weekend after supporters are due to be allowed back into football grounds.

Harrogate were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history on Sunday, and responded by tearing out their artificial pitch on Tuesday. Artificial surfaces are allowed in non-league football, but are not permitted in the League.

The Sulphurites expect the new surface to be bedded down and ready to use by October 10.

It is anticipated that supporters will be allowed back into English grounds the previous Saturday, although ground capacities will be limited according to their layouts and locations. The abandoning at very short notice of pilot schemes to bring fans back into cricket grounds, Goodwood horse racing track and the Crucible for the World Snooker Championships were, however, a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted at this stage.

The National League, which regulates the Conference Premier, North and South, is scheduled to restart on October 3 for that reason, but the Premier League and Football League campaigns are due to kick off on September 12.

Harrogate have asked for more away matches in the early part of the season.

A fixture list is expected around August 21, with the issue of which club will be relegated from League Two still to be resolved.

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